Ask iPhonewzealand
As we’ve seen again and again, despite not being an “official” Apple carrier, Telecom’s XT network is arguably the network of choice for performance. However, when it comes to the iPad there are some quirks that make managing your prepaid connection more of a chore than it should be. Keep reading to find out how you top up and how you check your balance.
Telecom’s prepaid system is built around either calling or sending / receiving texts to top up and manage your account. Unfortunately, the iPad doesn’t do either of those things but don’t panic — there are solutions!
How to check your balance
You will need:
- The 027# your SIM is connected to (you will find this on the box your SIM came in. If you don’t have this any more you can call 0800 800163 with your SIM card number and they will tell you the number).
- An iPhone 4 OR
- Another mobile phone and a SIM adaptor
- Internet access
1. Take your MicroSIM out of your iPad and put it in a mobile phone. Because this is a MicroSIM you will need to put it in either an iPhone 4 OR you will need to obtain an adaptor to make it standard SIM sized and then put it in another phone.
2. Using your iPad over a wifi connection or some other form of Internet access visit the Mobile Broadband usage meter at the following URL: www.telecom.co.nz/mbbmeter
3. When the site loads, click the option that says “I don’t have a password.” When asked, enter the 027# for your prepaid SIM.
4. A temporary password will be texted to your prepaid SIM. Open the text and enter the password in the website.
5. Change the password to something you can remember.
6. Bookmark the page on your iPad and put the MicroSIM back in the iPad. Saving the bookmark to your home screen is a good idea.
You’re done!
How to top up your credit balance
You will need:
- A phone
- A top-up voucher OR credit card
- The 027# your SIM is connected to (you will find this on the box your SIM came in. If you don’t have this any more you can call 0800 800163 with your SIM card number and they will tell you the number).
Option One – Top-up with voucher
1. Go to https://secure.telecom.co.nz/prepaid/topup.cfm
2. Enter your credit card details
3. Make a note of the Voucher number that is provided after you hit submit.
4. Call 0800 323232
5. Follow the voice prompts to top up with a voucher. The credit will then be loaded onto your SIM card.
(note: you can also purchase a top-up voucher from a Telecom retail store, dairy or petrol station)
Option Two – Top-up by phone
1. Call 0800 323232.
2. Follow the voice prompts to top up with a credit card. The credit will then be loaded onto your SIM card.
We’d like to see Telecom come up with some alternative methods of topping-up and managing your balance without having to use SMS or voice calls, and we have it on good authority that this is currently being investigated. An app in the App Store would be the best bet in our opinion.
Are you an iPad-using Telecom prepaid customer? Do you have any other tips to sure? Perhaps you have some other ideas for how Telecom could implement account management via the iPad? Share your thoughts in the comments!
I tried that first step but the website wouldn’t let me do it. Said something about the site not being available and I tried it over several days.
I then emailed Telecom and lo and behold they registered it for me in about 10 mintues! I’ve done this twice now no hassles at all. Go to their website and email them from there asking them to have access to the Prepaid Mobile Broadband usage meter for your iPad. You’ll also need to give them your mobile number. This was their response:
“If you would like access to our Prepaid Mobile Broadband usage meter, we need to transfer your number to a normal SIM. Then set up the usage meter, and then transfer your number back to the micro sim. This process does not take long, and is fairly simple. If you would like me to arrange this for you, please confirm via reply email.”
http://www.telecom.co.nz/mobile/mobilebroadband
(myopinion has made 58 comments)
@nathstar
It was my understanding (from when I got a T-Stick on Prepaid in Dec 09) that the $30 cost of the SIM was for 500Mb but it is “used up” at a rate of $1 per 10Mb for the first 300MB and then the balance 200Mb is “free”. And if you don’t use the $30 you retain the unused portion. eg: you use 60Mb in a calendar month = cost $6, your balance on 1st of next calendar month will be $24… I understand that you have to use the SIM once every 6 month (I think) to keep the balance alive. In fact I haven’t used the T-Stick in months and I just rang Telecom and it still has $28.34 on it
Above relates to my T-Stick SIM, in my 3G iPad I got end of May I have another Telecom PrePaid SIM I cut down and put $30 on – I continue to use the odd bit of data on the iPad when away from WiFi and I just rang 0800323232 then option 5, then option 5 again – and they told me as of right then I still had $0.91c on it. So while I was on the phone to them I just threw another $30 on it (and got a bonus free $5 as well). They don’t like topping you up over the phone, and don’t understand about iPad/no text etc but just TELL them you want to top up via telephone using credit card and they do it.
Hope that helps
(NZ_Guy has made 12 comments)
Wow good advice Steve. It never occurred to me to use the iPhone 4 to receive the text password (but I guess i never had my iPhone 4 back when I got my 3G iPad). Anyway, XT is the way to go even if it is a bit more hassle to top up for the iPad. Speaking of which… Telecom say that you have to top up every calendar month (because your data doesn't carry over), well this isn't true in my experience. I last topped up my XT SIM on April 6 (used to use it in a T-stick), then on June 6 I got my iPad 3G, chopped the SIM and have used about 800MB of data since then, obviously i have a bit of data on there but I haven't had to top up every month. Be interested to hear if anyone else has the same good fortune. I know for a fact one of my mates hasn't had to top up either.
(nathstar has made 13 comments)
Good post. Thanks.
(pacharawit has made 48 comments)
Anyone know where I can get one of those sim adapters.
I know that they come in large packs, so I’m willing to split the price or something along those lines.
(daba has made 19 comments)
@ daba:
I got one off trademe for $7
(NZ_Guy has made 12 comments)
Why not do it the easy way? I top up my iPad sim directly from the iPad with no phones required.
You do need a phone to get things set up at first. I forget the exact process but you go to the Your Telecom page that shows your usage. I found the link somewhere on this site, but the bookmark I have on my home screen shows
https://login.telecom.co.nz:443/amdistauth/UI/Login?realm=TelecomDevices&goto=http%3A%2F%2Fyt.telecom.co.nz%3A80%2Fmobile%2F
From there you set up an online account for your ‘phone number’ and that requires that you receive a TXT to complete the process. Sorry for the lack of detail on this part, but I sort of felt my way through it when I did it.
Anyway, once that’s done (and in my case the sim was then cut down to microsim size) you have two simple steps for a top-up.
First go to the online top-up page as described in the post and enter your credit card details. You can put your phone’s number in the field for sending the code, but it doesn’t really matter because the code is displayed on screen. Copy that code from the page.
I suggest open a new Safari page (in case you stuffed the copy of the code) to the YT page as mentioned before and click the “Top up a mobile” link at the top. Then click “Top up by prepaid voucher”. Here you can paste the voucher number and your sim’s phone number and hit the button.
All done and no phones required. I have done this whole process while sitting on the train.
Note there is also an option to top up by credit card directly on the YT page, but a friend had tried that and struck major problems so I’ve not investigated any further on that.
Someone with a fresh sim may be able to improve my setup instructions as it’s not really possible for me to go back and test.
(zkarj has made 38 comments)
Another way to top up is;
1) Know the 027# of the SIM
2) Call 0800 323232 from a LANDLINE
3) Follow the voice prompts from there.
(Short_1 has made 11 comments)
I realised that it makes sense to buy topup in $60 amounts which gives $20 free credit. Unused credit gets carried over to the next month. I think it would only get lost if you didn’t use any data for 6 months.
(Kimb has made 1 comment)
Oh, and remember the YT link only works over 3G so turn off your wifi you're connected with it.
(zkarj has made 38 comments)
It is lost if you don’t top up within 6 months.
(thefatmould has made 32 comments)
Just marvellous.
I followed the instructions (thank you for them) get the txt sent to my wife’s phone after making a sim adaptor…try login, “LDAP error – User unknown.”
Try the ‘Resend password’ option again…receive new password…”Sorry login unsuccessful.”
How can this be so fcuking difficult?
(wirld has made 4 comments)
Hi guys, i’ve just brought an iphone 4 and just waiting for it but wondered if anyone can tell me how many mb on the xt prepay plan is the norm to get?? Is 240mb enough if i’m just using the apps and stuff.. I realise it all depends on how much i use it but i have no idea if 240mb is much or not?? Thanks
(Nathan has made 6 comments)
Nathan wrote:
Hey Nathan.
On your iphone do you do such things as emailing and web browsing, mobile me, or downloading apps using 3g as apposed to wifi?
The above things are the biggest users of 3g data.
Check out the telecom website as they have a limited offer on 1gb data plans for $38 a month!
Hope this helps.
(wowpartyz has made 52 comments)
Hey thanks for your reply… I’m still waiting for my phone but was just going to see what kinda plan i’d need before it arrives.. I can use wifi from home but i’m guessing i will use the apps the most but wasn’t sure if apps actually use up much mb’s
(Nathan has made 6 comments)
The simplest way i found to top up my IPad Microsim was to call their helpline,
and ask them to top up a prepaid microsim with 29.95 for 500 Mb of data.
Was hassle free and instant!…Just need to know your telecom microsim number..starting with 027*.
Cheers,
Kalai.
(kalairaj has made 1 comment)